Two new reporters join The Oak Ridger

Friday

Jan 17, 2014 at 5:24 PM

The Oak Ridger has recently hired two new reporters.

from staff reports

The Oak Ridger has recently hired two new reporters.

Both Russel Langley and Heather Hicks began working at the newspaper last week. Both are general assignment reporters with Langley concentrating on city government in addition to his general assignment duties and Hicks on local sports in addition to her general assignment duties.

"We're thrilled to have both Russel and Heather join our staff," News Editor Donna Smith said. "They'll enable us to bring more local news to our readers and help keep the public better informed on issues facing our community."

Russel Langley comes to The Oak Ridger from the Oak Ridge Observer where he worked as a general assignment reporter from September 2012 until the weekly newspaper's recent closing. Prior to that, he spent 21 years in the active and reserve U.S. Air Force. He is a combat veteran and a medically retired deputy sheriff.

Langley has an English degree from The Union Institute and the University in Cincinnati. He has self-published a non-fiction account of his time as deputy titled: "Gunfighter: My Time in Hell." Additionally, he's published two photo books — "Vets: Warrior Faces" and "California: The Way I See It."

Langley lives in Oak Ridge with his wife, Lise, and his two children, Deanna and Matthew, who attend Oak Ridge schools.

Heather Hicks graduated from Lincoln Memorial University with a bachelor's degree in English. She specialized in literature and creative writing. At LMU, Heather won a faculty-nominated award for Excellence in English.

Before joining The Oak Ridger, Hicks worked as a community news reporter for Campbell County's Volunteer Times web newspaper, covering a variety of community events and governmental meetings.

She currently lives in Oak Ridge, and says she is excited about the opportunity to get to know the community and to work with The Oak Ridger.

"We look forward to working with Heather and Russel," Publisher Darrell Richardson said. "Oak Ridge is a unique community and has been very supportive of The Oak Ridger for right at 65 years now.

"It is our privilege to be able to serve the readers and advertisers who support both our print and online products."

The Oak Ridger's longtime reporter Beverly Majors, who covered city government, police and a variety of other topics, retired shortly after Christmas. Among those attending Majors' informal retirement luncheon was Deputy Chief Alan Massengill of the Oak Ridge Police Department and Leean Tupper, a former reporter with The Oak Ridger who currently works with Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank.

The Oak Ridger recently moved its offices to Suite 100, 575 Oak Ridge Turnpike (The Victory Centre). The newspaper's main phone number is (865) 482-1021.

To contact Russel Langley directly, dial (865) 220-5514 or email him at rlangley@oakridger.com.

To contact Heather Hicks directly, dial (865) 220-5501 or email her at hhicks@oakridger.com.